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WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION

The Complainant is Avon Products Inc., of 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, United States of America.

Represented by Fross, Zelnick, Lehrman & Zissu, of 866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, United States of America.

The Respondent is Jongsoo Lee, of 606 Mure 6-25-23, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-0002, Japan.

Respondent is not represented.

The domain name with which this dispute is concerned is: <avonkorea.com>.

The Registrar with which the domain name is currently registered is Network Solutions Inc., of 505 Huntmar Park Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20170, United States of America.

3.1 The Complaint was filed electronically and in hard copy to the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "WIPO Center") on February 21 and February 22, 2001.

3.2 On March 2, 2001, the Registrar verified:

(i) that the domain name is registered with it;

(ii) that the current registrant of the domain name is the Respondent;

(iii) that the Policy applies to the domain name;

(iv) that the domain name is currently in "Active" status;

(v) Respondent's Administrative Contact Billing Contact and Technical Contact is Lee, Jongsoo,112-1601 hyundaeA hongjae4dong sudaemunku Seoul, Korea 080 KR.

3.3 On March 6, 2001, all formal requirements for the establishment of the Complaint having been checked by the WIPO Center were found to be in compliance with the applicable ICANN Policy, ICANN Rules ("the Rules") for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("the Policy"), and WIPO’s Supplemental Rules. The Panel has checked the file and confirms the WIPO Center's finding of proper compliance with the Rules and establishment of the Complaint.

3.4 On March 7, 2001, the WIPO Center sent the Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding as follows:

(i) by courier and by e-mail to Respondent, the Administrative Contact, Billing Contact and Technical Contact;

(ii) by e-mail to the e-mail address shown in the web page to which the domain name resolves.

3.5 The Administrative Proceeding commenced on March 7, 2001 and the Response was due on March 26, 2001.

3.6 On March 23, 2001, Respondent requested an extension of time to April 3, 2001 on the ground that further time was required to translate materials from Korean and Japanese.

3.7 Complainant objected to Respondent's request and the Response was filed electronically on March 26, 2001.

3.8 Panelist D.J. Ryan, having filed the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, was appointed as sole panelist on April 5, 2001.

3.9 On April 10, 2001, Complainant filed a request for permission to file a supplemental Response to Respondent's Response. This Request was accompanied by the Supplemental Material and was communicated to Respondent on that day.

4.1 The Response contained submissions and partially translated material relating to the relationship between Respondent and Complainant's Japanese subsidiary. Complainant's Supplemental Material sought to deal with this.

4.2 The Panel, having considered the Response and the Supplemental Material allowed the Request and issued the Procedural Order attached as Attachment A.

4.3 Respondent sought an extension of time to reply to the Supplemental Material on the ground of language difficulties. An extension to May 7, 2001 was granted and Respondent's reply material was filed on that day.

5.1 Complainant is a U.S. corporation engaged in the business of direct selling of beauty and related products. It was founded in 1886 and Complainant asserts that since 1929 it has continually used the word "Avon" as its name and mark to identify its products. Complainant asserts that its "Avon" products are currently sold in over 137 countries, and that it is the world's largest direct seller of direct beauty and related products. Complainant adduces evidence of wide-spread knowledge of its "Avon" trade mark (Complainant Exhibit E).

5.2 Complainant is the registered proprietor of over 40 federal trade mark registrations in the United States and over 4,000 trade mark registrations in over 118 countries throughout the world including Korea, that consist of, or include the word "Avon" (Complaint Exhibits F, G and H).

5.3 Complainant is the owner of the domain name <avon.com> as well as a number of country specific names in the CC domains, including <avon.co.jp>. Complainant is also the owner of a number of other domain names in which the word "Avon" is the dominant identifying particular (Complaint Exhibits J and K). Web pages accessed through the <avon.com> domain name show prominently the words "AVON.COM" with the tag line "the company for women".

5.4 The domain name is registered to Jongsoo Lee, the brother of Jong-Seon Lee (hereinafter called "Ms Lee") who is stated to be the founder and president of AvonKorea. There is no indication of the legal status of Avonkorea, corporate or otherwise. The Response has been signed by Ms Lee, apparently on her own behalf, and both the Complaint and the Response appear to proceed on the basis that the Respondent is Ms Lee and not the domain name registrant, Jongsoo. In what follows, the Panel will therefore refer to Ms Lee as "Respondent" except where a distinction is to be drawn.

5.5 Respondent is an "Avon lady" operating in Japan. That is, she is an independent sales representative authorised by Avon Products Co. Limited, the Japanese subsidiary of Complainant (hereinafter called "Avon Japan"). She is one of over 800,000 such independent representatives authorised to sell Avon products in Japan.

5.6 The domain name was registered in February 2000 and resolves to the web site of AvonKorea. Respondent asserts that she established the <avonkorea.com> web site for the purpose of advertising and on-line sale of Avon products in Korea. Respondent further asserts that she did so with the consent of Avon Products Japan, and that she offers for sale Avon products. Respondent exhibits with partial translation an Avon Products name card and catalogue each bearing the name and tag line "AVON - the company for women". Respondent's web page bears pictures of Avon products, the name and tag line and a picture of Complainant's corporate headquarters in New York (Complainant Exhibit L).

5.7 A document entitled "The Avon Agreement", a partial translation of which is exhibited to the Response as Response Exhibit A and to Complainant's Supplemental Material as Exhibit A, is the only document produced by either party purporting to regulate the relationship between Complainant and/or its Japanese subsidiary and Respondent. That Agreement states that:

"4. When an Avon Lady engages in the sale of Avon Products, she shall use the title "Avon Lady". An Avon Lady can use items other than the sale promotion materials prepared by Avon for sales of Avon Products, by receiving advance permission in writing from Avon.

5.8 Respondent asserts that she, Ms Lee, was granted by Avon Japan, non-exclusive rights to sell "Avon" products in Korea and has received verbal permission and sales materials from Hiroko Amemiya, "the manager-in-charge" and has incorporated them on the <avonkorea.com> web site. (Response Exhibits E and F). Respondent further asserts that she registered and is currently using the domain name with the verbal permission of Avon Japan.

5.9 Complainant, by its Supplemental Material, denies each of Respondent's assertions in para. 5.8 and produces a sworn declaration from Hiroko Amemiya stating that:

Complainant also produces a sworn declaration from the Group Director of Sales of Avon Japan, Kimiko Horii, stating that:

5.10 Respondent by her Reply re-asserts her previous claims and contests the evidence of Ms Amemiya. She also directs attention to other registered domain names which include the word "Avon". Respondent also accuses Complainant of intimidation and "Domain Name and Business Hijacking".

6.1 This dispute is one to which the Policy applies. By registering the domain name, Respondent accepts the dispute resolution policy adopted by the Registrar. The Registrar's current policy set out in its domain name registration agreement is the Policy.

6.2 To succeed in its Complaint, Complainant must show that each of the conditions of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy are satisfied, namely that:

(i) the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trade mark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and

(ii) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain name; and

(iii) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.

7.1 Complainant contends that it is the owner of the trade mark "Avon", that its mark is famous worldwide, and that the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to that trade mark. Complainant contends that the word "Avon" is the dominant distinctive portion of the domain name, and that a finding of confusing similarity cannot be escaped by the addition of a geographic designation. Complainant cites Case D2000-0150 - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Walmarket Canada ,and Case D2000-0071 – CSA International v. John O.Shannon and Care Tech Industries, Inc.

7.2 Complainant contends that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain name. Complainant does not contest that Respondent is an "Avon Lady" authorised to sell Avon Products in Japan. Complainant contends that as one of over 800,000 such persons she is not entitled to claim any rights or interests in the domain name, and denies that it ever authorised Respondent to register the domain name, to modify any of its materials or to use them on her web site.

7.3 Complainant contends that it has direct evidence that Respondent has registered and is using the domain name in bad faith and that Respondent's web site is designed to confuse Internet users into believing the web site is authorised by Complainant. Complainant contends that:

7.4 Respondent contends that, based on the fact that she is an "Avon lady" in Japan, and the verbal permission allegedly given to her, she has a legitimate interest in the use of the domain name in the furtherance of her business in Korea and that her registration and use has been in good faith and without any intention of confusing the public.

8.1 As pointed out in paragraph 5.4 the person appearing as the registrant of the domain name, and therefore the Respondent in these proceedings, is not the person who is using the domain name and who responded to the Complaint. There is therefore a preliminary question as to whether the Panel should deal with the matter on the basis that Ms Lee is the true Respondent and that Mr. Jongsoo Lee is merely her nominee for the purpose of holding the domain name. On a strict construction of the Policy Mr. Jongsoo Lee should be the Respondent and the matter should be dealt with only on the basis of his conduct. However, to do so would be to ignore the reality of the situation and would appear to run counter to the practice of Panelists in previous cases. Nominee registrants have been involved in several previous cases including Imperial College v. Webweaver – Case D2000-1146; Investissement Marius Saradar S.A.L. v. John Naffah – Case D2000-0853, Cellular One Group v. The Design Factory – Case D2000-1670 and Computer Futures Recruitment v. Keith Phillips – Case AF-0106, and in each of those cases the Panel has had regard to who it was who had the substantive interest in the domain name.

The Panel therefore proceeds on the basis that the true Respondent is Ms Lee. The Panel notes however, that the final outcome would not have been different had it treated Mr. Jongsoo Lee as the Respondent.

8.2 Complainant's "Avon". trade mark is widely used and registered throughout the world. It is a famous mark in which Complainant clearly has rights. The domain name adopts that famous mark with the addition of the geographic designation "korea". The domain name therefore appears to be a localised sub-set of the famous mark and is likely to be confused with it.

The Panel therefore finds that the domain name is confusingly similar to Complainant's "Avon" trade mark and paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy is satisfied.

8.3 There is a clear conflict of evidence as to whether or not Respondent was authorised to sell "Avon" products in Korea, to adapt and use Complainant's trade mark and copyright material on her web site and to use and register the domain name in connection with such activity. The Panel has no opportunity to test the evidence on the record or to cross examine or observe the demeanour of the witnesses. On the Respondent's side is her own assertion, under oath in the case of her Supplemental Reply, and on the Complainant's side there is the sworn testimony of two corroborating witnesses. In these proceedings the onus is on Complainant to make out its case under paragraph 4 of the Policy. The Panel recognises that where there is a language difference between the parties misunderstandings may arise. The Panel takes this into account but is of the opinion that it is unlikely that a corporation of the size and experience would voluntarily permit one of its multitude of sales representatives to appropriate its trade mark into a domain name or to adapt and use its trade marks and copyright material. On the balance of probability therefore the Panel accepts the evidence of Complainant.

8.4 That, however, does not conclude the question. Paragraphs 4(c)(i) of the Policy is in fact a deeming provision and accordingly if, before notice of the dispute, Respondent was using the domain name in connection with the bona fide offering of goods or services, a legitimate right or interest must be found. Complainant does not dispute that Respondent was using the domain name in connection with the offering of its goods. The question is, whether that offering was bona fide. Considered in the abstract, there is nothing on the record to show that Respondent's offering of goods, as such, was not bona fide. However, in the context of the Policy, it is necessary to consider the totality of the transaction including the use in that context of the domain name and of the right to use Complainant's trade mark and copyright material. As noted above, there is a conflict of evidence in this regard but the Panel accepts the evidence of Complainant.

The Panel therefore finds that Respondent has not used the domain name in connection with the bona fide offering of her goods or services. Respondent therefore has no rights or legitimate interest in the domain name.

Bad Faith Use and Registration

8.5 Inspection of Respondent's web site (Complainant Exhibit L) featuring as it does Complainant's trade mark, logo, tag line and a picture of Complainant's corporate headquarters, clearly indicates an attempt by Respondent to suggest authorisation by, or affiliation with, Complainant. Not only is the domain name likely to attract users of the Internet to the site in the belief that it is Complainant's site, or associated with it, but the deception is continued once the site is reached.

The Panel therefore finds that Respondent has, by using the domain name, intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, users to her web site by creating a likelihood of confusion with Complainant's "Avon" trade mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation or endorsement of her web site. The provisions of paragraph 4(b)(i) of the Policy are therefore satisfied and registration and use of the domain name in bad faith is established.

9.1 The Panel decides and orders:

(i) The domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trade mark in which Complainant has rights;

(ii) Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name;

(iii) The domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith;

(iv) The domain name should be transferred to Complainant.

D.J. Ryan
Sole Panelist

Dated: May 22, 2001

WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

1. In this matter Complainant seeks to file further material in reply to the Response. The reply material is directed principally to matters relating to the contractual relationship between Respondent and Complainant or its Japanese subsidiary and certain matters of translation of Japanese and Korean language materials relied upon by Respondent.

2. The Panel, having reviewed the Complaint and the Response and proposed supplementary material is of the opinion that the material will be of assistance to the Panel in deciding the matter.

3. Parties may be permitted to file further material only in exceptional circumstances – see for example Rapido TV v. Jan Duffy-King – D2000-0449, such as where the Response raises matters which Complainant could not reasonably foresee at the time of filing the Complaint, or new material which has since come to hand. The proposed Supplemental Material goes to matters of evidence which Complainant could not reasonably have foreseen at the time of preparation of the Compliant.

4. The Panel therefore exercises its discretion pursuant to Rules 10(a) and 12 of the Rules and admits the supplementary material.

The Panel orders:

1. Complainant's Supplemental Material filed April 9, 2001 is admitted.

2. If not already served, copies of the Supplemental Material to be served on Respondent forthwith.

3. Respondent to file Reply to the Supplemental Material by April 27, 2001.

4. Such Reply to be by declaration on oath.

Des Ryan
Sole Panelist

Dated: April 12, 2001